History

From family company to global player

Anyone who wants to move mountains the way Eckerle has must have a dynamic history behind them characterised by a pioneering spirit, a wealth of inventions, courage and persistence. You can find out more about Eckerle’s history - from the early days to the present - here.

Patent beginnings

At the age of just 20, Otto Eckerle founded his first company in Malsch. During those early years, the company focused on the design and construction of operating materials and specialist equipment used for metal processing.

Patents for motor vehicle carburettor technology and for devices to run motor vehicles on wood gas, petrol or light diesel oil soon followed.

Destruction and new beginnings

The destructive power of the Second World War also affected Eckerle badly. Although the company had begun to develop encouragingly before the war, the bombs that fell in February 1945 destroyed the factory that had only been built three years earlier.

Business operations resumed with the agreement of and support from the Allied Forces, initially in aid workshops, while at the same time work progressed on restoring the destroyed factory

High-powered innovation

During the years of Germany’s “economic miracle”, the innovative phase began - with fundamental developments and patent registrations, especially for the fully compensated external gear pump.

Technical revolution

At the start of the decade, Eckerle designed a completely new internal gear pump with radial and axial compensation, as well as a new burner pump. Thanks to these and other revolutionary developments for industrial and mobile hydraulics, Otto Eckerle began to make a name for himself on the international markets.

The first internal gear pump, the IPH series, was patented in 1968. The “ECKERLE System” led to the success of the IPH series and to global recognition.

The expansion continues

The sister company, GOTEC S.A., was founded in the Swiss town of Sion. Today, Eckerle Industrie-Elektronik obtains central fuel feed systems and electromagnetic piston pumps for a range of applications from its sister firm.

The GOTEC electromagnetic pump - a resounding success for over 50 years.

Pioneer of efficient lighting technology

Eckerle Industrie-Elektronik GmbH is founded - opening up a completely new field of business for the company. The company now also successfully manufactures electronic components for the lighting market. The subsidiary also develops and produces electronics for a wide range of applications.

Hydraulics, the second chapter

Following a failed partnership with a major company, the HydraulicsDivision of EckerleIndustrie-Elektronik GmbH was rebuilt.

Serial successes

The Eckerle Hydraulics Division, or EHD, commences seriesproduction. With its coreproduct of high-pressure internal gear pumps, it is once again an active player on the globalmarket. The product is successfully used by all of the world’s leading forklift truck manufacturers.

A birthday present of a street

To honour the 90th birthday of the company’s founder, OttoEckerle, on 8th March, the “OttoEckerleStrasse” was inaugurated at the company’s headquarters in recognition of Otto’s services to the community of Malsch.

More space for production

Global sales successes allowed the company to continue growing. In October, a new production facility covering 2,000 m2 was inaugurated, significantly increasing the operational area for hydraulics.

Destination China

The world's biggest export market is calling: Eckerle Industrie-Elektronik GmbH expands its foreignbusinessintoChina. This step was made easier by the fact that a piece of Chinese legislation required the use of energy-saving hydraulicsystems - and our “ECKERLE System” internal gear pump is especially suitable for this type of application in servo drives.

Eckerle continues to grow

In December, the company gains a new, 420 m2 production facility at its headquarters in Malsch. Here - in the logisticscentre - is where the fully assembled hydraulics systems are stored and prepared for shipping for worldwide consignment sales in no fewer than 74 countries.

Peaks in Germany

Eckerle Industrie-Elektronik GmbH became the marketleaderforindustrialpumps, and specifically for compensated internal gear pumps. The successful mobilehydraulicpumps were expanded with the EIPC3-5-6,EIPH3 and EIPH6 series and deployed with the same success coupled with massive expansion on the global market.

Faster, bigger, better

The demand for Eckerle products is growing across the world. To keep pace with this and to produce more, we are constantly expanding our operational facilities. This also includes the finalisation of plans for a new research and development centre.

Eckerle continues to grow

Construction of the new test building for the Eckerle Hydraulics Division. At the end of last year, final demolition work was completed in the old dispatch area, and construction of the new test building for the Eckerle Hydraulics Division began. The new building is directly adjacent to the existing production facility. The current test building will continue to be used until construction work is completed – this is scheduled for fall of 2017.

Rebranding

Due to advanced product diversification and the company’s international orientation, Eckerle Industrie Elektronik GmbH goes Eckerle Technologies GmbH. Whatever the future may bring – the Eckerle story continues.